How Kentucky commits performed during opening week of high school football
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High school football got underway for most of the country throughout the week. The state of Kentucky was buzzing all weekend long with high-profile showdowns between ranked opponents and plenty of Divison I-level talent roaming the fields. Notably, a handful of those players are committed to playing football at the University of Kentucky next season.
How did they (and the rest of UK’s 2024 recruiting class) perform over the last few days? That’s what we’re here to figure out. Let’s dive into the results from the first few days of the 2023 high school football season to see how the future Wildcats performed. Keep in mind that stats from some states are not as readily available as others.
Cutter Boley (QB) 6-5, 200 | Lexington Christian Academy (Hodgenville, KY)
4-star: No. 140 overall, No. 9 QB
- Cutter Boley led No. 13 Lexington Christian Academy to a 56-52 win over top 10-ranked Bowling Green in what might already be the Game of the Year. Boley went 22-35 for 342 passing yards with three touchdowns, one interception, and no sacks in his senior season debut. LCA will face an even better opponent next week when the Eagles travel for a road matchup against top-ranked Boyle County on Saturday, August 26.
Terhyon Nichols (CB) 5-11, 185 | Withrow (Cincinnati, OH)
4-star: No. 198 overall, No. 22 CB
- Teryhon Nichols and Withrow opened up the season with a 42-0 pummeling of Walnut Hills on Thursday in what was the “Battle of Duck Creek Road”. This was more of a tuneup game than anything for Withrow, considering Walnut Hills went 0-10 a season ago. Nichols played limited reps in the blowout victory. Withrow will play again on Friday, August 25 against Springboro.
Elijah Groves (LB) 6-3, 210 | East Robertson (Cross Plains, TN)
4-star: No. 231 overall, No. 22 LB
- Like Nichols, Elijah Groves and his East Robertson squad were met with little resistance in the season opener. East Robertson took down Liberty Creek 42-20 on Friday. The score was 28-6 in favor of East Robertson after the first quarter. Groves (and his two brothers, who are also being recruited by UK) will be back in action on Friday, August 25 against Houston County.
Tovani Mizell (RB) 6-1, 195 | Western (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
3-star: No. 524 overall, No. 43 RB
- Off week for Western. Tovani Mizell will make his senior season debut on Thursday, August 24 at home against Milton.
Jiquavious Marshall (ATH) 6-4, 180 | Westside (Macon, GA)
3-star: No. 546 overall, No. 20 ATH
- Jiquavious Marshall was one of two Kentucky commits not to come away with a season-opening win, as Westside lost to Hephzibah 35-14 on Friday night. Statistics were not available for Marshall, but he did post some highlights on social media.
Aba Selm (IOL) 6-4, 295 | Simon Kenton (Independence, KY)
3-star: No. 618 overall, No. 48 IOL
- A contender in the trenches for Kentucky Mr. Football, Aba Selm and Simon Kenton took down Dixie Heights at home by a final score of 29-19. The Pioneers trailed at one point 19-7 before mounting a second-half comeback. Simon Kenton will be back in action on Friday for a high-profile showdown against Woodford County where KSR will be in attendance.
David Washington Jr. (WR) 5-10, 180 | St. Joseph’s Prep School (Philadelphia, PA)
3-star: No. 802 overall, No. 124 WR
- Off week for St. Joseph’s Prep School. David Washington Jr. will make his senior season debut on Friday, August 25 in a massive showdown against Florida’s IMG Academy. The game is set to take place at Ocean City High School in New Jersey and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Caleb Redd (EDGE) 6-4, 220 | DeSmet (Saint Louis)
3-star: No. 834 overall, No. 60 EDGE
- Off week for DeSmet. Caleb Redd will make his senior season debut on Friday, August 25 against Kirkwood for an away game.
Wille Rodriguez (TE) 6-4, 225 | Covington Catholic (Covington, KY)
3-star: No. 892 overall, No. 48 TE
- One of the biggest headline grabbers from opening week was Willie Rodriguez, who hauled in three catches for 75 yards and one touchdown as No. 8 Covington Catholic took care of Ryle 37-22. Rodriguez’s big performance was highlighted by a 53-yard touchdown trot where he shook off multiple defenders on his way to the end zone in just the game’s fourth play. Covington Catholic is locked in for a top-25 showdown with Highlands on Friday, August 25.
Antwan Smith (LB) 6-3, 195 | Westlake (Atlanta, GA)
3-star: No. 918 overall, No. 88 LB
- Antwan Smith and Westlake — one of the top 10 best teams in Georgia — took down North Cobb 52-28 on Friday. Westlake scored on its first five possessions of the game and later scored the game’s final 19 points. Smith recorded a handful of tackles (some for loss) and quarterback hurries in the victory.
Steven Soles (LB) 6-2, 215 | Powell (Powell, TN)
3-star: No. 921 overall, No. 89 LB
- Steven “Sack ‘Em” Soles and Powell powered past defending 4A state champion Anderson County (TN) on Friday night, 35-21. The score was knotted 14-14 at the halftime break before Powell surged ahead in the second half. Powell returns to action on Friday, August 25 against Farragut.
Hayes Johnson (IOL) 6-3, 295 | Taylor County (Campbellsville, KY)
3-star: No. 1,081 overall, No. 95 IOL
- In game two of the Little Caesars Fort Harrod Bowl on Saturday, Hayes Johnson and Taylor County came up short against Mercer County, falling 38-22. Taylor County coughed up three interceptions in the fourth quarter. Next up for Taylor County is a matchup with Bardstown on Friday.
Quaysheed Scott (ATH) 6-0, 185 | Marion (Marion, SC)
3-star: No. 1,183 overall, No. 58 ATH
- Quaysheed Scott and Marion snuck out a season-opening win on Thursday, 28-18, over Lake View in what was a matchup between two of South Carolina’s top 10 programs. Scott played on both sides of the ball, recording several tackles in the backfield and one catch on offense. He also lined up in the Wildcat. Marion will take the field again on Friday, August 25 against Wilson.
Jadon Lafontant (IOL) 6-3, 315 | Brunswick School (Greenwich, CT)
3-star: No. 1,240 overall, No. 105 IOL
- Off week for Brunswick School. Jadon Lafontant will have to wait longer than the rest of his future teammates to make his senior season debut, which is set for Saturday, September 9 against Loomis Chaffee.
Jacob Kauwe (K) 6-2, 200 | Billings West (Billings, MT)
3-star: No. 1,733 overall, No. 7 K
- Off week for Billings West. Jacob Kauwe will make his senior season debut on Friday, August 25 at home against Butte.
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